The First World War
An RCR Officer's Diary 1914-1918

JANUARY, FEBRUARY 1915

JANUARY 1915

Shortly after the beginning of the new year band commenced a
series of concerts for the benefit of the numerous American visitors.
Capt Law returned from sick leave early in the month and Lt Cockburn,
58th Regt, reported for duty (on attachment).

The rank of Company Sergeant Major and Company Quartermaster Sergeant was brought in, the former dealing with training and discipline, the latter pay, clothing and equipment.

"F" Co. moved from Warwick to St David's while "G" Co. moved
from St. David's to Warwick.

On 13th [Jan]
Mr Henri Taschereau was appointed provisional
Lieutenant in the Regiment. This was the first appointment of this kind
that had been made for over twenty five years.

On 18th [Jan] Maj and Brevet Lt. Col.
Carpenter arrived from
Halifax and took over command on 21st from Lt Col Fages who sailed for
Canada on 23rd on appointment to command 4th Divisional Area at
Montreal. This was undoubtedly one of the most popular promotions that
had ever occurred in the Regiment.

Capt Law took over command of "C" Co. from major Burnham who
had been appointed O.C. Detachment St George's Island.

By Army order officers holding temporary commissions in the
Regular Army were given rank in the Army according to the date of their
appointments, and by London Gazette officers of the Dominion Forces
overseas were given temporary commissions in the Army from the date of
their embarkation abroad.

At the end of the month all the Signallers scattered over the
Island were called in for training.

FEBRUARY 1915

On February 1st the battalion was re-organized again, being
brought on to the new Four (double) Company basis. The distribution
became as follows:-

Under the new organization the battalion was divided into
Headquarters and a Machine Gun Section, and four companies (each of 227
all ranks). The Company was commanded by a Major or mounted Captain
with a Captain 2nd in Command, and four platoon commanders. Platoons
were commanded by a subaltern with a platoon sergeant as 2nd in
Command. The platoons were numbered consecutively throughout the
battalion from 1 to 16. Platoons were in turn divided into four
sections each under an N.C.O. and numbered throughout the Company from
1 to 16 also.

The immediate advantage of the new company organization was
that every man in the company was a "rifle". Machine Gunners,
Signallers, Pioneers, Stretcher Bearers, etc., were all supernumery to
the establishment and remained with the Headquarters. The company being
much larger became more of an independent unit, and where in the past
two companies (more or less strange to each other) would be allotted a
task together, under the new arrangement the same number of men would
be working under one commander with whom they had worked and trained
and whom they knew. The chain of command was more distinct and defined
than previously. The platoon being a unit in a different sense
altogether to the old half company, its commander had far wider scope
and was entirely responsible for its training.

The Commander of the Company possessed a 2nd in Command to
carry on the administrative work, while freeing himself for training.
Under this organization the rank of Colour Sergeant was abolished after
being in existence for a little over 100 years. The rank of Company
Sergeant Major and Company Quartermaster Sergeant was brought in, the
former dealing with training and discipline, the latter pay, clothing
and equipment.

Company Sergeants Major ranked as Warrant Officers. Warrant
Officers were consequently divided into two classes I and II. Those
ranks and appointments for the most part which had been W.O. In the
past became Class I, while those of the Sqdn, Batty, Coy Sergt Maj,
Colour Sergt, etc., became Class II.

On 3rd [Feb]
Lt Cock with M.G. Section marched to Warwick to
carry out Field Training.

On 6th [Feb] Capt O.V. Hoad (attached) sailed for Halifax for
Australia having been recalled by his Government, two days later Capt
Brett, 7th Gurkha Rifles, sailed in H.M.S. Essex for India having also
been recalled.